Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95196 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
“Hello, my angel.” He strode to the side of the desk, away from me, and opened his arms. “I missed you terribly.”
Was I about to meet the infamous Mirren?
Chapter
Eleven
Be in the Know: When To Summon Your Rage Support Squad
From A Beginner’s Guide to Berserker Bliss
Author Unknown
Asoft patter of footsteps sounded as the girl ran into his arms. I watched, transfixed, as Callen lifted her off her feet. The two embraced as if they hadn’t seen each other for months, whispering and chuckling together, presenting a glorious picture of love and family.
Homesickness threatened to choke me. Would I ever enjoy a reunion with my parents?
“Who’s she?” the little girl asked, pointing at me. Safe in the arms of her father, she rested her head on his shoulder and stared at me with those icy baby blues. And what a stare it was! Direct. Unwavering. Unnerving, really.
Callen kissed his daughter’s brow, love all but shining from his pores. How tender he was with her. How reverent. She was clearly his greatest treasure.
No way he’d harmed this girl’s mother. Callen Bruce would rather die than hurt his baby girl.
The same couldn’t be said of his feelings for his wife. “This is Isobel.” His lips flattened as though the introduction tasted bitter.
“The shrew you were forced to marry?” Asked with an innocent, curious tone. No doubt she’d only repeated what she’d heard others say.
I laughed with genuine amusement, and both father and daughter studied me. The first with surprise. The latter with burgeoning curiosity. I hiked my shoulders. “What? It’s funny.”
“I married her, yes,” he said with a sigh. “You may call her Isobel.”
“The shrew prefers Elle,” I piped up, holding my book against my chest. “You must be Mirren.” The six-year-old girl I’d heard almost nothing about. “I’m so happy to meet you.”
Mimicking her dad, she heaved a sigh. “We’re never goin’ to be friends, so you can stop tryin’. You’ll die soon, anyway. Everyone does.”
Oookay. I glanced at Callen, whose tough façade developed cracks. Those cracks revealed…what was that? Devastation? I gulped but rallied fast, flashing an all-is-well schoolteacher smile at Mirren. “You’re right that everyone dies. Even people who shouldn’t.” A lesson I’d learned at my father’s passing. “That’s why we should live our best life while we can. For me, that means winning you over because I like you already.”
For some reason, my attention returned to my supposed husband. His lips compressed into a thin line. Had I said the wrong thing? Or oh so right?
“My apologies,” an unfamiliar voice announced from the doorway. Soft and hesitant, sweet and feminine.
I pivoted to find a young woman had joined us. My eyes widened. She looked like the woman I’d seen in photos on Callen’s computer. Sorcha, the missing live-in girlfriend. The newcomer wasn’t Sorcha, though, but a more subdued version of her. Mirren’s aunt, I’d guess.
His expression returned to one of indulgence as he nodded at the newcomer. “Hello, Gavina.” His voice even dipped with affection. And I wasn’t envious. I wasn’t!
She smiled shyly at him. “Hello, Callen.” Her gaze darted to me, and the color drained from her cheeks. “I mean Mr. Bruce. I mean Sir. I’m happy to see you again, but in a completely innocent way. Before I forget, we ate peas, as suggested. Well, a pea. We split it. It was the only bargain the little sugar would agree to.”
Her reaction to him aroused my curiosity. I glanced from one adult to the other. Did the two have something going on? Was it Gavina who’d called me a shrew? Did she double as Callen’s lover?
I pressed my nails against the cover of my book. If he kept a mistress, I would…I’d…argh! I didn’t know.
After Callen and Mirren discussed the bravery she’d displayed when she’d choked down the pea half, I focused on Gavina. “Hello. I’m Elle. The wife. Also known as the shrew.”
Callen cast a frown in my direction.
“What?” I asked, spreading my arms. “Did I misspeak?”
“My tutor, Miss Hanes, called you a shrew,” Mirren informed me. “Gavina said you’ve had a hard life, and that I’ve got to be nice to you. But there’s no reason to be nice, since you’re gonna die and all. That’s what always happens to Daddy’s girlfriends.”
“Fire the tutor,” Callen snapped at Gavina.
Exactly how many girlfriends had died? And did he just stand up for me?
The other woman paled again, her features twisting with horror. “Aye, of course. I should’ve fired her already. You both have my sincerest apologies,” she rasped, glancing between Callen and me. “Our sweet Mirren has been obsessed with death ever since—well. Never mind.”
Ever since her mother’s death? My chest tightened. Yeah, I could understand that.
“I’m Gavina Barron, Mirren’s aunt. So lovely to meet you at last.” The beauty nodded at me before turning to the little girl. “Mirren, honey, we talked about this.” She closed in on father and daughter and held out her arms. “Come on. Your da has work to do.”